Favorite Teams

We did it!

Weather.comIt appears that it will be only a matter of time before the Atlantic basin sees its first named storm of this hurricane season. A series of disturbances are moving west across equatorial Africa toward the ocean, and are holding together as they do so.

It was expected, it was foretold, and indeed, every reporting location within the five boroughs, and many without, saw its first 90-degree reading of the summer yesterday. Officially, Central Park hit 90 at 2:04 p.m., later topping out at 91 at 2:29 p.m.

Granted, this wasn't the kind of heat that would cause people in the desert Southwest much undue concern, but it was a landmark for us here in New York City during this mild summer of 2009. For the record, yesterday's 90-degree mark was our third of this year, as we got into the 90s twice during April.

We might see 90 again today, but we could just as easily not. We'll wake to the same oppressive air mass this morning, and the thermometer will get a head start on its daily climb as we shouldn't drop below the mid-70s overnight.

However, there's a cold front coming, which will break this hot and humid spell rather emphatically. It should get here by late this afternoon. With it, of course, will come the chance for showers and thunderstorms. While the evening sky did feature some lightning on Monday, any rain was very widely scattered. Especially given the timing of the frontal passage today, during the heat of the day, thunderstorms should be much more widespread. Take an umbrella; you'll be glad you did.

With this summer's 90s watch now over, we can turn our attention to the next weather record of note. If Central Park receives 3.66 more inches of rain by the end of this month this will be the wettest summer on record in New York City. Chances are we won't get there, but there's really no telling --- one strong thunderstorm could make the difference.

Speaking of precipitation, check this out --- on Friday and Saturday Typhoon Morakot stalled over Taiwan. As a result, one location in that island nation, Chiatung, received 114 inches of rain over the span of three days. That's right, 114 inches, or nine and a half feet. Needless to say, flooding on a massive scale and huge mudslides have proven deadly there.

Yesterday's extreme temperatures in the contiguous United States --- High: 100 at Alva, Okla.; Low: 32 at Pinedale, Wyo. The moon is currently waning gibbous, 76 percent illuminated.